Sights at Thantrimale, Sri Lanka.

The 'Banyan tree' at the entrance to the historic site.

Flowers for sale to be used in the 'Pooja'.

Water lily and lotus flowers.

A 'Flame of the forest' in bloom.

Paintings inside the 'Budumedura', Thanthrimale, Sri Lanka.

Paintings done over the last few years on the inside walls of the 'Budumedura' depicting scenes from the 'Jathaka tales'. The 'Jathaka tales' relate to the various lives of Lord Buddha before his last birth when he attained Enlightenment. 

Sights at Thanthrimale, Sri Lanka.

The 'Bo tree' and Chaithya.

A moat.

Thanthrimale goes a long way back in history, more than 2200 years. The sacred branch of the Bo Tree under which  Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment, was brought by Sanghamitta Theraniya from  India. They disembarked at Dambukola Patuna - close to present Keerimalai. The procession on its way to Anuradhapura was given a nights rest here, by a Brahmin.
One of the eight saplings of this Bo tree was planted here and is still present. This makes some claim that this Bo tree is older than the one at Anuradhapura - planted in the 2nd Century BC.
When the son of King Dutugemunu Prince Saliya married a woman of a low cast, they were banished by the father and they found refuge in Thanthrimale. 

'Katina pinkama perahera', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Stilt-walker' doing a 'fire-dance' 

'Fire-dancers'

Young dancers with teacher playing the cymbals to keep the rhythm.

'Kalagedy - pot - dancers.

Click on link below to watch a video clip:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruOzA_Z6CfE&feature=share&list=UU1dqepitfAJwrQWLD-gZ3NA

'Katina Pinkama' Perahera, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Young boy riding a decorated bicycle.

Fire-dancers and stilt-walkers. 

Kandyan drummers.

Female dancers.

Young female dancers.

A caprisone baby elephant in the procession.

Katina' is a day in the life of a Buddhist monk at the end of the rainy season ('vas'). The Lord Buddha instructed that pieces of clothe used on corpses should be retrieved from the cemetery. These pieces were sewn together in the shape of the 'liyaddhe' of a paddy field. This material was then washed, dyed by immersing in specified boiled roots and leaves. The robe was then dried and at the end of the day was worn by the Buddhist priest. The priest then gave a sermon to the assembled helpers. In present Sri Lanka the material of the robe is bought. It is then taken in procession and handed over to the priests. This latter is called a 'Katina Perahera'.
The word 'Katina' means difficult or arduous. This is equivalent to the Tamil word 'kadhinam'.

Sights at Thanthrimale, Sri Lanka.

The water reservoir dried up.

Sights at Thanthrimale, Sri Lanka.

A mini-bridge made of a stone slab.

A cave to meditate?